Table Hopping column: Visiting Blue Smoke and Shake Shack

For today’s column I spent some time at the new Blue Smoke and Shake Shack at the Saratoga Race Course. The restaurants are open until about 7 p.m. on track days. The adjacent Paddock Bar is open until 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; daily drink specials, including $4 draft beer, run from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

For all the talk about these two spots I was rather disappointed when I tried them on Monday (before heading to Dale Miller for drinks!) I know it was a Monday, and maybe people don’t know much about them but the limited menu so they can serve “thousands” seems to be an buzzkill. I had to force myself to get something from Blue Smoke because I didn’t feel like a burger but wanted to try the two places out. I ended up with the chicken wings which were good (don’t get me wrong) but not worth the price- I kind of expected more than 6 wings. Then later after dishing out around the same amount of money on a strawberry shake I was left wondering where the rest of my shake was. Fast service is great, and good food is great, but when the portion to price ratio is so small, and the options are basically 3, I kind of wonder what’s the point?

My experience on Monday was that it looked like service would be quick between the 1st & 2nd races since not every worker on a register at Shake Shack was busy. There seemed to be a bit of confusion among the staff since a very large order was in process. Apologies were given to the customer next to me that the food coming out was still part of that large order. Yet my order of a double burger and fries also came out before the order for the customer next to me, even though his order was placed before mine.

The burger was excellent – juicy, flavorful and rare. I’m not sure how many people would have liked their burger this rare. I do, but I was never asked how I wanted my burger. Was this the norm or a goof? I agree with the comment above that I didn’t notice what the “shack sauce” added to the flavor, but I did notice that the lettuce had a nice noticeable flavor. (I suggest you also try the burger at the Ginger Man Wine Bar in Albany. IMO I think it’s comparable.)

Fries were very good and reminded me of my Mom’s 50 years ago. Maybe a bit too much salt however. Proper crispness, texture, and good flavor.

I noticed in Steve’s column today that their hours have them open until 9 pm. If that is not a typo, then there is an excellent opportunity to go there at the end of the racing day, usually the last race is around 6 pm, and enjoy either or both establishments without having to pay an admission fee at the gate.

I’ve heard that the new paddock bar, located right next to these Blue Smoke/Shake Shack, will stay open “as long as people are interested”. I guess the cutoff is 9pm. Makes sense for the food joints to be open and cater to the hungry drunks who may be flush with cash. The it’s just a short walk to the Horseshoe/Siros. Sounds like fun!

While the prices are a bit high, considering that they are at the track they are pretty average for anything you would find there. The workers do get a little confused sometimes, but they only started training two days before the track opened, so the kinks are still being worked out. Also, the burgers are made to order for the most part, so it does take a couple of minutes.

In regards to the gluten free options, they do have them – you just have to ask. There is no cross-contamination either, so no worries about that.

The shakes are a bit pricey, but they are also custard shakes and custard is a lot more expensive to make, and it’s heavier/thicker therefore it is more filling.

It is not open until 9, it closes at 7pm unless the races end early then they will close earlier. The rooftop above Blue Smoke does have a bartender up there – or so I was told, I just haven’t been up there myself yet to check it out. Also, the best time to go would be before a race – not after one. Right after a race ends is when the lines start to form.

your print article mentioned the $5.75 burger price as inexpensive. Really? I will say this, about Meyer, he has the media wrapped around his finger. The food is ok, a little better than a chain if you ask me.

For all you guys posting well thought out reviews in these comments, you really should join yelp.com and copy paste them over there so they don’t get lost in the fold of Steve’s relatively fast moving blog…

Some of you sound as if you’ve never been to the track. The burgers, shakes,fries, etc. should be compared both by price and quality to what was offered BEFORE Meyer’s places! Then there is just no comparison: on both scores, Meyer’s wins.

You all are acting ridiculous. Meyer’s food is tremendous. The tasting menu at the Gramercy Tavern is a wonderful adventure into Meyer’s true cusine and a fantastic after work destination. The menu, without wine, being in the Sub $120 range, it’s quite a value coming from Danny.

Holy cow waht a dissappointment. The lack of a line at the Blue Smoke should have clued me in.
In a matter of seconds after I had ordered the pulled pork sandwich, a gray box was handed to me. I guess it was pre-packed and who knows how long it sat.
The meat was ground pork. Not forked or shredded but ground. No flavor to the meat. None. It was a weird yellow color. The meager dash of orange sauce was like watered down ketchup. The seeded roll was ok. My daughter ate that by itself. The sandwich was left unfinished.

The strawberry shake at the Shae Shack was great. One of the best shakes I ever had. The blak and white hsake – meh! I could get the same at McDonalds.

The ale was good. Very hoppy but finished well.

If this is standard for these stands then I think the hype will wear off and they will fail.

Did the burger run on Sunday and to be honest, I was impressed with how quick we got through the line, but that was it. The burger didn’t even come close to “Five Guys.” That said, it was ok and value for the track. The fries were ok, but there used to be a fresh cut place at the track that was better, that makes the processed crap, well taste like crap.

The only real negative was the guard at the front and the counter workers screaming names, while a race was going on (of course the band was playing during the race, so I guess they don’t really have a clue people are there to bet and watch races.

@#9, there is an article in the Saratogian today that confirms the bar is open until 9pm. The paddock bar is evidently called “The Post”. From the article:

A new area called The Post — which is located near the clubhouse entrance gates and houses the Shake Shack and Blue Smoke concession stands as well as a bar and several betting windows — is open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Happy hour at The Post is from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; some draft beers are on sale for $4, compared to $6.50 regularly. The bar features two unique drafts from Brooklyn Brewery, Blue Smoke Ale and Shackmeister. Both are named in honor of the eateries and are hoppy, amber ales.

The first twilight racing day, July 30, when post time was 2:30 p.m. “proved to be pretty rocking,” Bernal said. The next twilight racing day is Sept. 3 and The Post will be open even later than 9 p.m., he said.